Integrating Employers in Thesis Work Using an Open Learning Environment: Case PROksi Tuomas Korkalainen Markku Tähtinen

Does the knowledge students demonstrate in their thesis meet the requirements of working life?

New job descriptions and knowhow are evolving in working life. Are the universities keeping up with these developments?

The need to improve the transition from university studies to working life is apparent.

Kalvosarjan tekijän nimi5 students teachers employers Open access: training events publications PROksi

PROksi - Open Learning Environment What's in it for me? Students possibility to demonstrate own strengths topics for thesis Networking working from distance Teachers new tool for thesis work new learning environment new possibilities for sharing knowledge Kalvosarjan tekijän nimi6 Employers new recruit model Thesis’ can benefit organisation possibility to influence content of studies

PROksi - Open Learning Environment for thesis work Kalvosarjan tekijän nimi7 launched in January 2012 used in Metropolia UAS in Faculty of culture Makes the students final thesis work open for employers Teachers co-students.

Kalvosarjan tekijän nimi8 Screenshot from PROksi-platform. Main page.

Kalvosarjan tekijän nimi9

PROksi – Topic bank Kalvosarjan tekijän nimi10 Employers can suggest ideas for Final theses Course projects Promote their organisation Students can Contact employers directly Reserve and relase topics

 during two academic years    official final theses tool in 3 degree programmes  other student projects  more than 300 users  positive feedback from all stakeholders Kalvosarjan tekijän nimi11 Pilot phase

 Different levels of digital skills  Students  Fear of writing in an open space  Tolerating incompleteness  Employers  Loosing trade secrets  resources  Teachers  Pedagogical challenges Kalvosarjan tekijän nimi12 Challenges

 Everything is done in open source  WordPress - content management system  Uses BuddyPress plugin  PROksi is a theme build upon Buddypress  Has been modified to the meet the needs of the project  Will be available for other institutions for free Kalvosarjan tekijän nimi13 Mainstreaming

reititin.metropolia.fi proksi.metropolia.fi twitter.com/reititin facebook.com/reititin Tuomas Korkalainen twitter: tuomenos